Portable Device Connection Apparatus and System

1. A connection apparatus for a portable device, the connection apparatus including: (a) a recess in a wall of the portable device for releasably receiving therein a connector and a connector cable, the recess comprising a rear wall with a gap therein for the passage therethrough of the connector cable, the connector cable extending between the gap and the connector with a curved shape when the connector is in the recess, the connector cable passing through the gap at an angle to the rear wall so as to bias the connector cable to the curved shape; (b) the connector cable having an inner end for permanent connection to internal circuitry of the portable device, and an outer end connected to the connector; the connector and the connector cable being for enabling: (c) data transfer both ways between the portable device and another device, and power one way to the portable device from the another device, when the another device is a host for the portable device; and (d) data transfer both ways between the portable device and the another device, and power transfer both ways between the portable device and the another device, when the portable device is the host for the another device.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connector is selected from the group consisting of: USB, and IEEE 1394; the connector cable being connected to the connector at a first side of the connector.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further including a retaining clip to releasably retaining the connector in the recess when not in use, the retaining clip being selected from the group consisting of: a spring arm extending outwardly from a rear wall of the recess and having a ball projection adapted to engage a correspondingly sized and shaped recess in a top of the connector, and a small projection integrally formed with a side wall of the recess such that the connector engages behind the small projection in the manner of a snap fit.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the connector is in the recess, the first side surface of the connector is substantially coplanar with the wall.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the recess is sized, shaped and located to not interfere with any operation of a plurality of keys of the portable device.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the recess further comprises: (a) two parallel opposed side walls; (b) a rear wall extending between and joining the opposed side walls; (c) a lower wall and a top wall both extending between and joining the two opposed side walls and the rear wall.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , wherein there is projection extending from a first wall of the two parallel, opposed side walls towards the second wall of the two parallel, opposed side walls; the projection having an inner end spaced from the second wall by a distance substantially the same as a length of the connector; the projection also having an inner curved surface to facilitate the connector cable forming a curved shape when in the recess.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the angle is in the range 30° to 60°.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first wall is spaced from the second wall by a distance greater than the length of the connector.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the connector is in the recess, the connector cable passes between the connector and the rear wall and biases the connector away from the rear wall.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further including a retaining clip to releasably retain the connector in the recess when not in use.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the retaining clip is selected from the group consisting of: a spring arm extending outwardly from the rear wall of the recess and having a ball projection adapted to engage a correspondingly sized and shaped recess in a top of the connector, and a small projection integrally formed with one of the two side walls of the recess such that the connector engages behind the small projection in the manner of a snap fit.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein there is projection extending from a first wall of two parallel, opposed side walls of the recess and extending towards a second wall of the two parallel, opposed side walls.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first wall is spaced from the second wall by a distance greater than the length of the connector.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein when the connector is in the recess, the connector cable passes between the connector and the rear wall and biases the connector away from the rear wall.

16. A portable device comprising: (a) a casing with at least one function key, (b) a recess in a wall of the casing for accommodating a connector when the connector is not in use, (c) a connector cable for permanently connecting the connector to an internal circuitry of the portable device; (d) the recess being sized, shaped and located to as to not interfere with operation of the at least one function key; (e) the connector, when in the recess, having a side surface substantially coplanar with the wall; and (f) the recess comprising a rear wall with a gap therein for the passage therethrough of the connector cable, the connector cable extending between the gap and the connector with a curved shape when the connector is in the recess, the connector cable passing through the gap at an angle to the rear wall so as to bias the connector cable to the curved shape.

17. A portable device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the connector and the connector cable are for enabling: (a) data transfer both ways between the portable device and another device, and one way power to the portable device from the another device, when the another device is a host for the portable device; and (b) data transfer both ways between the portable device and the another device, and power transfer both ways between the portable device and the another device, when the portable device is the host for the another device.

18. A portable device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the connector is selected from the group consisting of: USB, and IEEE 1394; the connector cable being connected to the connector at a first side of the connector.

19. A portable device as claimed in claim 16 , further including a retaining clip to releasably retain the connector in the recess when not in use.

20. A portable device as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the retaining clip is selected from the group consisting of: a spring arm extending outwardly from a rear wall of the recess and having a ball projection adapted to engage a correspondingly sized and shaped recess in a top of the connector, and a small projection integrally formed with a side wall of the recess such that the connector engages behind the small projection in the manner of a snap fit.

21. A portable device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the recess is sized, shaped and located to not interfere with any operation of a plurality of keys of the portable device.

22. A portable device as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the recess has two parallel opposed side walls, the rear wall extending between and jointing the opposed side walls; a lower wall and a top wall both extending between and joining the two opposed side walls and the rear wall, the lower wall being spaced from and parallel to the top wall; the angle being in the range 30° to 60°.

23. A portable device as claimed in claim 22 , wherein there is projection extending from a first wall of the two parallel, opposed side walls towards the second wall of the two parallel, opposed side walls; the projection having an inner end spaced from the second wall by a distance substantially the same as a length of the connector; the projection also having an inner curved surface to facilitate the connector cable forming a curved shape when in the recess.

24. A portable device as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the first wall is spaced from the second wall by a distance greater than the length of the connector.

25. A portable device as claimed in claim 23 , wherein when the connector is in the recess, the connector cable passes between the connector and the rear wall and biases the connector away from the rear wall.

26. A portable device as claimed in claim 22 , further including a retaining clip to releasably retain the connector in the recess when not in use.

27. A portable device as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the retaining clip is selected from the group consisting of: a spring arm extending outwardly from the rear wall of the recess and having a ball projection adapted to engage a correspondingly sized and shaped recess in a top of the connector, and a small projection integrally formed with one of the two side walls of the recess such that the connector engages behind the small projection in the manner of a snap fit.

28. A portable device as claimed in claim 27 , wherein there is projection extending from a first wall of the two parallel, opposed side walls towards the second wall of the two parallel, opposed side walls; the projection having an inner end spaced from the second wall by a distance substantially the same as a length of the connector.

29. A portable device as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the first wall is spaced from the second wall by a distance greater than the length of the connector.

30. A portable device as claimed in claim 29 , wherein when the connector is in the recess, the connector cable passes between the connector and the rear wall and biases the connector away from the rear wall.